Lewis begins Book III — his most practically focused section — by correcting a dangerously narrow view of what morality is actually about.

Discussion Questions

6 questions

1.Lewis uses the fleet-of-ships analogy to describe the three departments of morality: relations between ships, the internal workings of each ship, and the purpose of the whole fleet. What are the three corresponding dimensions of human morality?

2.He argues that modern people tend to think of morality almost exclusively as relations between individuals — fairness, kindness, honesty. The other two departments (internal character and ultimate purpose) are neglected. Do you recognize this narrowing in your own culture or community? In yourself?

a.What happens to a society that obsesses over social justice while neglecting personal virtue?

b.What happens to a person who obsesses over private virtue while neglecting their duty to others?

3.Lewis says the question of ultimate purpose — what the fleet of ships is *for* — is the question that every ethical system must answer, even if it tries to avoid it. What answer does Christianity give, and how does it differ from the most common secular answers?

4.He draws a distinction between two senses of 'unselfishness': not causing harm to others, and positively doing good. What is the difference in motivation — and in character — between these two kinds of people?

5.Lewis acknowledges that people who do the right things for the wrong reasons may produce some good — but he argues it leaves the most important problem (the nature of the person) untouched. How does this connect to his later argument that God is after transforming us, not just regulating our behavior?

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